Skip to main content

8 animated DC films you need to watch now

DC may have yet to master making live-action films, but it sure knows how to do animation. The House of Batman and Superman has one-upped Marvel by making numerous animated movies over the years, many of which don’t get the recognition they deserve.

To put that into perspective, DC has built not one but two cinematic universes following various characters in the past decade. DC fans looking for something better might want to check out these eight animated movies.

Recommended Videos

Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)

The ruined Watchtower in a river in "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War."
DC

After the Justice League launches a failed attack on Apokolips, John Constantine and a de-powered Superman must lead Earth’s surviving heroes and villains in a final battle against Darkseid to save the Earth. Fans of DC’s Snyderverse will enjoy Apokolips War, as it features many plot elements that would’ve been used in the two canceled sequels to Justice League.

With a post-apocalyptic Earth, a superhero massacre, a brainwashed Batman, and monstrous “Paradooms,” this film holds nothing back in presenting the bleak and bloody finale to the League’s war with Darkseid.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

The shadowy silhouette of Bruce Wayne donning the Batman mantle.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Though many people call The Dark Knight Batman’s best movie, some lists have ranked this film as the Caped Crusader’s greatest. Set in the same universe as Batman: The Animated Series, Mask of the Phantasm shows Bruce confronting his past when his former lover, Andrea Beaumont, appears alongside another masked vigilante, the Phantasm.

And as Batman tries to prove his innocence of Phantasm’s crimes, the film depicts the hero’s tragic origins in a unique way by showing how the world and Bruce himself have denied him the chance to live a happy, healthy life.

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

Batman standing with Gotham and the Red Hood looming overhead.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This spectacular film shows Batman confronting his greatest failure in the form of his protégé, Jason Todd, who returns as a violent vigilante after presumably dying at the Joker’s hands. As the Red Hood, Todd battles Batman in a clash of ideals that raises questions about the Dark Knight’s moral code.

Whether or not his approach to crime-fighting is the best, this film does a terrific job of analyzing why Batman won’t break his one rule, not even for Jason nor the Joker.

Batman: The Long Halloween Parts 1 and 2 (2021)

Batman and Harvey Dent in "Batman: The Long Halloween - Part 1."
DC

Fans of The Dark Knight and Matt Reeves’s The Batman should enjoy this two-part adventure. Adapting the storyline of the same name, The Long Halloween shows the World’s Greatest Detective team up with Catwoman and Harvey Dent to stop a serial killer named “Holiday” from murdering members of the Falcone crime family, culminating with Harvey’s transformation into the villain “Two-Face.”

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)

The Flash in promo art for the Flashpoint Paradox.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For those disappointed by Andy Muschietti’s The Flash, this film presents a more faithful adaptation of the iconic “Flashpoint” comic. After going back in time to prevent his mother’s murder, the Scarlet Speedster ends up de-powered in an alternate timeline in which Thomas Wayne is Batman, Martha Wayne is the Joker, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman have started World War III.

The Flashpoint Paradox makes full use of its source material to present a dark, time-traveling epic that forces the Flash to face the full weight of his tampering with fate, along with his greatest enemy, Professor Zoom.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Batman standing atop a building with the cityscape and Joker looming overhead.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Set in the futuristic Neo-Gotham, Bruce Wayne’s latest protégé, Terry McGinnis, faces off against the Dark Knight’s greatest enemy after inexplicably returning from the dead.

This Annie Award-winning film is an especially dark chapter in DC’s Animated Universe, depicting how the Joker brainwashed Tim Drake into fighting Batman, leaving deep scars in the minds of both the Dark Knight and his young ward. However, audiences should watch the uncut version of this film if they want to feel the full force of this haunting thriller.

The Death of Superman (2018)

Superman's cape hung as a flag in "The Death of Superman."
DC

In his continuing war against the Justice League, Darkseid sends his new bioweapon, Doomsday, to wreak havoc on Earth, pitting him in an epic battle against Superman.

While Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice may have mashed Doomsday into its third act, The Death of Superman puts a greater emphasis on the Man of Steel, his personal struggles, and his climactic showdown against the alien monster, making for a more faithful and focused adaptation of the infamous comic storyline.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Parts 1 and 2 (2012 and 2013)

Batman jumping through the night sky with a lightning bolt next to him in "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns."
DC / DC Comics

A decade after retiring as Batman, a middle-aged Bruce Wayne returns to crime-fighting in a Gotham overrun with crime, leading to battles against Two-Face, the Joker, and even Superman. Every shot of this film looks like it was taken straight from the panels of Frank Miller’s classic comic.

And as it stays loyal to the beloved source material, The Dark Knight Returns stretches out into two films to showcase the aged Batman’s epic war against Gotham’s criminals and a struggling government humiliated by his actions.

All of these movies are available to stream on Max.

Anthony Orlando
Anthony Orlando is a writer/director from Oradell, NJ. He spent four years at Lafayette College, graduating CUM LAUDE with a…
7 best action movies of the 2020s, ranked
Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.

As the halfway point of 2025 approaches, it's become clear that the 2020s have been a great decade for action movies. The genre is very popular among the various streamers, but it's also still the top draw at the box office. Almost all of the major hits from the last half decade have incorporated action into the story in some way. It's just what people want to see on the big screen.

It was surprisingly easy to pick the No. 1 film on our list of the seven best action movies of the 2020s. But there may soon be another contender for the throne. And if the second half of the decade produces action flicks that are as good as the movies of the last five years, then this list will look very different in 2029.

Read more
F1: The new footage of Brad Pitt behind the wheel looks incredible
Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, and other drivers line up and stare in F1.

Director Joseph Kosinski set out to make the most authentic racing movie ever made with F1. Judging by the new footage with Brad Pitt behind the wheel, Kosinski might have achieved his goal.

Apple Original Films released the main trailer for F1, the upcoming sports drama from the filmmaker behind Top Gun: Maverick. Sonny Hayes (Pitt) is a driver looking for redemption after a career-altering accident in the 1990s nearly cost him his career. Hayes never lived up to his talent and became known as "the greatest that never was."

Read more
What is DirecTV: plans, pricing, channels, and more
DirecTV hero, May 2025.

DirecTV has been around for a long time, and now you can get the channels you want without a pesky satellite dish. The company's streaming product, once called AT&T TV and then DirecTV Stream, is now simply DirecTV. While it may not be the most popular streaming service, it's worth checking out. It provides access to live TV and an on-demand library like Hulu Plus Live TV or YouTube TV. Although it tends to be a bit pricier, you receive plenty in return.

We've got the details for you here.
Tell me about DirecTV's streaming service
DirecTV Stream has undergone another rebranding and is now known as DirecTV (yes, it's confusing, see below). This change reflects the company's focus on streaming as its primary service. Existing DirecTV Stream customers should not experience immediate changes to their service or packages. New customers will find all streaming options under the DirecTV brand.

Read more